Van Houten won the majority of votes from the Tompkins County Democratic Committee in September. Kopko, who had originally sought the Democratic nomination, secured a nomination from the Independence Party days later. Kopko has challenged Van Houten's nomination, saying the Democratic committee's process was flawed and illegal, but a judge sided with the Democrats. Kopko is waiting to hear back on an appeal.

Matthew Van Houten(Photo: Sierra Davenport / Provided Photo)

Van Houten, 49, is a local attorney who grew up in Cortlandville. He graduated from Dryden High School in 1985, then attended West Point and graduated in 1989. He served active duty in the Army for three years and was honorably discharged. He went on Albany Law School and, after graduating in 1995, returned to Tompkins County. He spent four years working at Wiggons & Masson and was a partner for 15 years in the law firm Holmberg, Galbraith, Van Houten & Miller.

Kopko lives in Ithaca and is a self-employed attorney with an office on Tioga Street. He was recently selected to be special prosecutor on a case in Broome County involving the district attorney's son. Kopko has lived in Tompkins County for 17 years and is originally from Fairbanks, Alaska. He attended the University of Alaska and received a bachelor's degree in political science, then got his law degree at Syracuse University.

Edward Kopko(Photo: Jon Reis / Provided Photo)

The debate will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, in Ithaca Town Hall. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Members of the community are encouraged to submit questions to be asked at the debate.

Kelsey O'Connor, reporter at The Ithaca Journal, and Jolene Almendarez, editor of The Ithaca Voice, will moderate.